Age 79 of St. Johns, Michigan passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at Clinton Memorial Hospital in St. Johns.

There will be no services.

Arvine was born on January 24, 1923 in St. Johns, Michigan, the son of Jake & Olive (Frayer) Eyer. He graduated from St. Johns High School. On August 20, 1945 he married Shirley Jeanne Burnell in St. Johns.

He served in the Military during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, EAME Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, 4 O/S Bars, Silver Star, Combat Infantryman Badge W/2D Award, Korean Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation W/2D Award, Bronze Star Medal W/2D OLC; Army Commendation Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), National Defense Service Medal W/Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was also a member of the St. Johns American Legion and resided most of his life in St. Johns and Chicago.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Eyer of St. Johns, two sons, Kevin Eyer of St. Johns, and Gregory Eyer of St. Johns, one daughter, Julie Fletcher of St. Johns, two grandchildren, Alexandra & Daniel Fletcher, two brothers, Mervin & Vi Eyer of Lansing, Carl & Jo Eyer of Carson City, and one sister, Marilyn & Robert Stephens of Maple Rapids.

Memorials may be made to Disabled Veterans. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.

Bertha M. Koenigsknecht died July 8, 2002 at the age of 90. She was born in Dallas Township on June 19, 1912, the daughter of Ignatius and Theresa (Spitzley) Koenigsknecht. She was a retired Fisher Body employee, a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella. 

Surviving are her brother, Raymond (Florence) Koenigsknecht, sister, Theresa (Stanley) Fox, sister-in-law, Viola Koenigsknecht, all of Fowler, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Marian Schmitt and Lorene Pohl, and brothers, Leonard Koenigsknecht, Brother Ronan Koenigsknecht, CSC, and Julius Koenigsknecht. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Friday, July 12, 2002 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with burial at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery. Rosary will be prayed 3 and 8 P.M. Wednesday and Thursday at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Fowler. Memorials may be made to Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust or for Masses.

Jean Harte went to be with her Lord on July 7, 2002. She passed from this world in the presence of her family who loved her very much. Jean was born to Harry and Rosa Ballinger on May 14, 1924. Jean was one of seven children (Elizabeth, Robert, Max, Jean, Marguerite, Agnes and John) raised by Rosa and Harry on their farm in rural St. Johns. She lived her entire life in the St. Johns area, the last 55 married to her husband Neil Harte. Together they purchased a farm on Price road, south of St. Johns in 1949 and together developed it into a very successful family farm. The farm is still in commercial operation in partnership with two of their sons, Robert and Jim. Farming was one of the loves of her life and she would not have wanted to live anyplace else. Up until her death, she still helped out by feeding calves and mowing hay. Neil and Jean raised six kids together, Gail (Charles) Wadell of rural Elsie, Robert (Barbara) of rural St. Johns, Bruce (Janice) of East Lansing, Barbara of Ottawa, Illinois, Jim (Ellen) of rural St. Johns and Sheri (Steve) Willis of Bath. Jean loved to cook for her family and her baked beans were famous throughout Clinton County. Some of her favorite pastimes were watching her kids play sports and show at 4-H; perform at music recitals, and in the theater. In later years she enjoyed watching her grand kids in these same activities. She also loved to play cards, grow plants and flowers and in particular roses.

Religion was very important to her and she was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church her whole life. During her life she was active in church related organizations and as a volunteer.

Her parents, Rosa and Harry, and her brother, Max, preceded her in death. Her husband, Neil, daughters, Gail, Barbara and Sheri, sons, Robert, Bruce and Jim, twelve grandchildren, Doug, Jeff, Michelle, Melissa, Marnie, Matthew, Dan, Brittany, Mallory, John, Caitlin and Andrew, two great grandchildren, Eric and Abigail and numerous nieces and nephews survive her.

A funeral mass will be said on Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 11:00 A.M. at St Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Interment will follow at Mount Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns on Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. The rosary will be said at 7:30 P.M. Donations can be made to St. Joseph School in St. Johns.

Jean was a hard worker and always wanted to be active. Most likely she is in heaven looking for some hay to mow and asking God for a little rain.

Larry A. Brown, Sr.

Larry A. Brown, Sr. died July 7, 2002 at the age of 61. He was born in Lansing on June 2, 1941, the son of Howard W. and Virginia (Thayer) Brown. He was a retired Health and Safety Manager for General Motors, a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, past president of the American Society of Engineers, Lansing Chapter and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Larry was an avid sportsman, outdoorsman, biker and hunter; was very active in the running community participating in the 100th running of the Boston Marathon; the word “can’t” was not in his vocabulary. Larry married Martha Ladisky in St. Johns on November 26, 1960 and she survives him. 

Also surviving are two sons, Larry (Lynette) Brown, Jr. and Jeffery (Julie) Brown, all of St. Johns, four grandsons, Michael, Joshua, Corey and Dustin, mother, Virginia Brown of St. Johns, two brothers, Richard Brown of Lansing and William Brown of St. Johns and sister, Linda Brown of DeWitt. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Brown and grandson, Brent. 

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, July 11, 2002 at the Osgood Funeral Home with burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday at the funeral home. Military graveside services provided by St. Johns Honor Guard.